Webinar - Geopolitics: A New World Order?

This event is exclusive to members of The Henley Partnership.

To book please contact your HR or Learning and Development team at your organisation.

Unsure who to contact? Please do not hesitate to contact us at thp@henley.ac.uk

In November 2026 we will have the US midterm elections, marking the halfway point of President Trump’s second term. Currently, the Republican party controls both Houses of Congress – could a change act as a constraint on Trump or is he truly unchained?

Businesses in many parts of the world are confronting a landscape shaped more by security issues than economic imperatives. The US stance on the war in Ukraine is forcing the EU and UK to prioritise rearmament over social goals. Tariffs and a fear of being cut off from vital commodities is leading many countries across the world to focus on regional rather than global ties and on supply chain robustness rather than efficiency.

This session will discuss the economic and political prospects for the key countries and regions of the world in 2027. Will Trump succeed in rebuilding the US economy by bringing manufacturing back home and will he retreat from being the world’s ‘policeman’? Can Western Europe meet the challenge of a strident Russia while also unlocking economic opportunities for its citizens? Can China keep economic growth high enough to avoid its financial, property and demographic woes from sparking a political crisis? Or will these economic questions fade in the light of geopolitical realities, as the vacuum left by US disengagement globally increases the risk of great power conflict?

And what does all this mean for Britain? We are now two years into the Labour Government’s term and the going has clearly been much tougher than the party hoped when in opposition. The UK’s deep-rooted problems – a lack of industrial competitiveness, a high proportion of citizens dropping out of the workforce, an ageing infrastructure and population, high government debt – will require radical policies to correct. Is the Government, and the country, ready for the challenge? Which sectors will find a route to grow and which will struggle?

Join us for a rundown on the biggest issues shaping the global economic and political scene, with a focus on how these will weigh on prospects for the UK. The session will provide a perspective, but also an opportunity for debate and questions.

By the end of the session, you will:

• have a good understanding of the geopolitical forces which are buffeting key countries and regions across the world
• have a good understanding of how geopolitical challenges will shape economic policy and prospects in the world’s major countries
• know where the global and regional economic hotspots are likely to be in 2027
• have a good understanding about the likely policy direction in the UK and how that will affect economic growth
• understand how heightened security risks could drive economic and business outcomes
• have a broad sense of the big long-term issues which will shape the world over the coming 10 to 20 years
• be able to talk confidently about the impact these issues will have on your industry and business

Leaders and managers who want to take a broad, macro-economic view of the world. Leaders who want to understand the geopolitical issues which will impact business in the near and further term and consider what that means for their organisation.

Robin is a seasoned economist and business leader who can engage with audiences on international economic, political and business developments and relate them to company growth strategy and team development.

Based in London, Robin initially worked as an economist for the Treasury, before moving to The Economist Group. He spent 18 years in senior editorial leadership roles with The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research and consulting division of the business. These included Editorial Director, responsible for Group-wide B2B research and analysis, EIU Chief Economist, and Head of Global Forecasting. During this time, Robin advised companies and governments on their strategy in the face of economic and political developments, working across Europe, the US, Asia and the Middle East. He also appeared regularly in print and broadcast media.

For his final nine years at The Economist Group, Robin was Global Managing Director (CEO) of the EIU. He was responsible for the commercial success of the business, setting company strategy – including the execution of organic developments and several acquisitions. He led a team of about 500 people, spread out in offices from New York to Beijing.

*Up to 50 places per member organisation. 'Up to' indicates the maximum number per member organisation. All places are subject to availability at the time of booking.*